Going to SFGAdv...looking for suggestions

Hi, first time poster here looking for some advise. I browse GTTP often, and decided to check out this board today.

Anyways, I am going to Jersey in June and my friend and I are trying to decide where to stay. Since the park closes at 8 we would like to have some "entertainment" in the area. Is there anyone from, or been to that area recently? There are two hotels that we are aiming at in East Windsor. Is that a good or bad idea? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Anyone? There's gotta be some people here that have been to or know SFGAdv and the area around there....

Isnt there anyone who lives anywhere near that park that can help out? Someone had to visit that park sometime and sleep somewhere. I hate sounding desperate but I really dont want to regret staying in the wrong area if i dont have to ya know.

I don't know the area all too well, but I have visited SFGAdv twice since 2001, and short of driving East on I-195 until you reach the Jersey shore, I seriously doubt there's much to do other than Six Flags. On my first visit, I stayed at a complete dive in Trenton (avoid Trenton at all costs). It was horrible. However, I had a nice experience last year camping at Tip Tam, which is about 10-15 minutes from the park. It's a really nice campground in the woods, and tent sites last year were $30. Not sure if prices will change this year (their website hasn't been updated), but it couldn't be that much of a difference.

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-Mike
Have you ridden a Toboggan?
*** This post was edited by Vater 5/22/2003 10:22:00 AM ***

You could try the Days Inn in Freehold. It's right by a big mall(Freehold Raceway Mall) which should be open until 10 on most nights. It's also located on Route 9 which has many restaurants on it. I've never stayed at that hotel though so I can't say how good or bad it might be.

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Sue Barry
CoasterSue@aol.com

We've done the Days inn thing before, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if we gave them more money. I looked it up through AAA and got approx $90/night.

..If my tent wasn't so huge I could have taken the camping option, but it is huge and I'd rather spend time at SFGAdv or Knoebels than time taking down my tent.

Thanks again.

oh Vater... I will catch your coaster count... just not this year ;)

Six flags has an outlet like 10 mins away from the park if you like shoping.

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Coaster count:32
top3 wood:Boulder Dash, Wildcat, Thunderhawk
top3 steel: Steel Force, Nitro, S:ROS@ SFNE

enfynet, keep in mind that I'll be tacking on about 20 or 25 this year... ;)

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-Mike
Have you ridden a Toboggan?

Go get your 20 or 25 ;) ... I'm going for 30 to 40 :)

I live in Monmouth County pretty close to the beach. There's not many places to stay in the immediate area around Great Adventure, its pretty wooded out in Jackson. There are hotels around Route 9 in Freehold, but I'm just going to give you a warning that Route 9 is a disaster because of traffic. I'm familiar with the Route 9 area, so if you needed something I could probably be of assistance. I couldn't tell you whats west of Great Adventure because I'm unfamiliar with the area.

What I would recommend to do is take the 30 minute drive from the shore to Great Adventure. There is a quiet little town of Spring Lake, which is right on the ocean, with lakes, churches, old victorian homes, and a town center on third ave. There are a few smaller hotels/bed and breakfasts all in a residential neighborhood. Its pretty easy access to 138 which turns into 195 west. Check out www.springlake.org

The town to the north of Spring Lake is Belmar, and thats more of a "party" town. There's a few bars along Ocean Ave. And if you wanted to, you could always go a few miles north to Asbury Park to some of the new up and coming restaraunts. Or two towns to the south there's Manasquan which is more of a hangout on the ocean. And then one town south of Mansquan is Point Pleasant which has a boardwalk with a few smaller rides, games, a nice beach, and some hangouts.

Point Pleasant, Manasquan, Spring Lake, Belmar, and Asbury Park all have train stations connecting them, and then farther north. Point Pleasant would probably have the most things to do out of all of the other towns. Most of the shore towns have places to stay.

If you need any additional help if you were interested in taking a detour along the shore...my AIM screen name is NitroExplodes. My email is nitroexplodes@yahoo.com

Well, I don't know anything bout hotel because I live close to great adventure so I don't have to worry abot sleeping in a hotel.

Since you want *entertainment*, I'd suggest that you stay a little ways away from SFGAdv in either Princeton (college towns *always* have something going on...even in the summer. Just ask upsidedawn ;)) or a little further away in Atlantic City. I *know* that place is hoppin'.

Personally, I've never been to either place. Each time I've gone to GAdv it has either been a day trip or I brought along my own, ummm 'entertainment'. But I think that either would suit your needs better than any of the above suggestions.

lata, jeremy

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The world's next Miss Universe?

2Hostyl said:

Each time I've gone to GAdv it has either been a day trip or I brought along my own, ummm 'entertainment'.
The world's next Miss Universe?

Hmmmm, looks pretty *entertaining* there jeremy...

bill, having some Phriday Phun before SRM...

Yeah we just locked up a room at the Days Inn at Freehold. I dont mind traffic, Rte. 9 cant be anything compared to what i went through in Los Angeles last August. After being there, no traffic scares me! I'm bringing some entertainment with me, I was basicly looking for something to do for a couple hours after the park closes, whether it be a movie or do some window shopping. Its all taken care of now.. thanks again for all the suggestions.

I hope you're not fond of left turns.

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--Maddie--

LOL. Nice, Chernabog. I always forget about Jersey's moronic intersections. Fortunately, if you stick to the interstate and head straight for Great Adventure, you won't have to deal with too many of them.

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-Mike
Have you ridden a Toboggan?

On the same topic (IE, SFGAdv suggestions)...

What do people suggest heading to first these days? I'm going to be visiting the park next month with a very limited agenda (Chiller, Superman, Viper, and Blackbeard) prior to heading out to Coney. Unfortunately, the trip plan necesitated a Saturday visit (shudder). I'm thinking go do Chiller first, as it's bad capacity-wise and I want to do both tracks (assuming both are open by then, of course). Then swing around the lake-side and hit Blackbeard, Viper, and finally wait thru a long line at Superman. Any GAdv experts care to comment on that plan?

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Mike Miller - SFMM: We don't care. We don't have to. You all keep coming back anyways, no matter how bad we treat you.

If you're getting there at opening, I would go to Superman first. I haven't been to the park as much as usual this year, but it sounds like that gets 2 hour + lines. If you get to S:UF right at opening, you should still be able to get over to Chiller immediately after that before the crowds get to that side of the park. On the other hand, if you do go to Chiller first, you might be able to get a few rerides on that. If Chiller is running both sides by then, I wouldn't count on both of them being open right at opening.

Have fun!

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Sue Barry
CoasterSue@aol.com

If you only have time for a couple rides, why go on Blackbeard's Train? Why not ride Medusa (my favorite)?

person...you've got a lot to learn about credit-whoring....;)

bASS has been on Medusa, but like me, hasn't been fortunate enough to catch Blackbeard....whenever I've been there, he's been *out to sea*, along with the departed Evolution (which I should FINALLY get to ride now that it's in St. Louis, hehe)...

As far as Viper, it's STILL my second-favorite Togo...and the best one still running, ROFL...

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